YEAR 6 SPRING TERM

Welcome back and a happy new year to everybody. We are looking forward to an exciting and inspiring term ahead.

WRITING

The children will continue to develop their writing skills to produce pieces in a range of genres and styles. This writing will be based around our class novel, Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian. We will be writing in role as characters from the book as well as writing a narrative based on evacuation. Our attention will then turn to other genres of writing based on our history topic.

GUIDED READING

Guided reading will continue to cover fiction, non-fiction and poetry and will be supported by our novel, Goodnight Mister Tom. These sessions will prepare the children for the upcoming reading test. Please continue to support your child’s reading by ensuring that they read at least 5 times per week and they record this in their reading record.

SPELLING, PUNCTUATION AND GRAMMAR

Spelling and grammar is taught in context within our English lessons as well as discrete sessions for spelling and grammar in preparation for the grammar, punctuation and spelling test.

MATHS

Maths is taught daily. Key concepts this term will include:

• strengthening arithmetic skills
• adding and subtracting fractions including mixed numbers
• multiplying simple pairs of proper fractions
• dividing fractions by whole numbers
• finding percentages of amounts
• using percentages to make comparisons
• finding values using ratio and proportion
• using scale factors for calculating dimensions and drawing shapes
• converting between metric units of measurement
• converting between miles and kilometres
• converting between units of time
• recognising 3D shapes
• calculating the area of 2D shapes
• calculating the volume of 3D shapes
• using simple formulae
• understand the basic rules of algebraic notation
• describing and finding the terms of a linear sequence

The children are working incredibly hard in our lessons but many would still benefit from regularly practising their recall of times table facts. It would also be useful to practise telling the time (in both analogue and digital) as well as posing time problems as they arise in day-to-day life (such as, If the film is ninety-five minutes long and we start watching at 7:15, what time will it finish?).

SCIENCE

During this term, the children will be learning about how living things are classified into broad groups according to common observable characteristics and based on similarities and differences. Plants and animals are two main groups but there are other livings things that do not fit into these groups e.g. micro-organisms such as bacteria and yeast, and toadstools and mushrooms. Plants can make their own food whereas animals cannot. Animals can be divided into two main groups: those that have backbones (vertebrates); and those that do not (invertebrates). Vertebrates can be divided into five small groups: fish; amphibians; reptiles; birds; and mammals. Invertebrates can be divided into a number of groups, including insects, spiders, snails and worms. Plants can be divided broadly into two main groups: flowering plants; and non-flowering plants.

HISTORY

When studying World War Two, we will explore the causes of the conflict, as well as examining the key Allied and Axis powers involved. Later, we will focus on significant events such as the Battle of Britain, a pivotal turning point in history. We will also delve into the experiences of evacuees and the impact of the Blitz, particularly on Cheltenham. Additionally, we will visit the Steam Museum in Swindon to participate in their World War Two-themed events, offering a hands-on perspective on this critical period in history.

ART

The children will explore the Pop Art movement and make their own collages inspired by the techniques and themes of artists such as Peter Blake and Eduardo Paolozzi. They will us collage techniques to create a different book cover for Goodnight Mister Tom. 

COMPUTING

After half term the children will be learning all about spreadsheets. Children will be taught how to organise and format data to support calculations while also being introduced to formulas. We will continue our work on online safety and focus on managing online information, privacy and security.

RE

During the spring term, the children will be considering the following key questions:

Key Question: What might ideas about samsara mean for Hindus?

Key Question: How do Muslims decide what is right and wrong?

PHYSICAL EDUCATION (PE )

PE will take place on Tuesdays and Fridays (6LJ) and Mondays and Tuesdays (6NJ) in the first half of the term. During the first half term the focus will be on Commando Joe’s and netball. In the second half of the spring term, we will be learning how to play tennis and rounders.

FRENCH

The children will be developing their verbal skills as well as reading and writing in French. The focus for this term is related to ‘En classe’.

PSHE

We are working on identifying dreams and goals for the future and how to take steps to achieve them. Next half term’s focus will be on relationships.

HOMEWORK

Homework will be set every Friday. We expect it to be handed in on the following Wednesday. The children have two books - grammar, punctuation and spelling and maths. Spelling lists continue to be put into their yellow spelling book to be practised and learnt at home.

Many thanks for your continued support.